Coupling for signal-rods



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. T. HAMBAY. COUPLING FOR SIGNAL RODS.

No. 406,211. Patented July 2, 1889'.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J T. HAMBAY.

COUPLING FOR SIGNAL RODS.

No. 406,211. Patented July 2, 188,9.

WITNESSES. INVE TOR.

- QM Q. \b m W h M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES T. l-IAMBAY, OF \VILKINSBURG, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

COUPLING FOR SIG NAL-RODS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,211, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed November 20, 1888. Serial No. 291,357. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES T. HAMBAY, a oi tizen of the United States, residing at WVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Couplings for Signal-Rods, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in signal-connections for draw-bridges; and has for its object such a construction of the signal-connections as will necessitate a restoration of the signals controlling the passage of trains across the bridge to danger before the bridge can be swung to one side for the passage of vessels; and it is a further object of such invention to afford a look not only to the bridge while the signals are at safety, but also a lock for the signals in order to prevent their accidental shifting 'tovsafety while the bridge is unlocked.

In general terms, the invention described herein consists in the construction and combination of mechanical devices or elements, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed. j

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved bridge and signal lock and the signal-connections, the cap of the guide-box being removed. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, the plane of section being indicated by the line mm, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation showing the bridge looked in normal position, and the connections of the several signal-rods in engagement ready for operation for shifting the signals. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the several parts in an unlocked position, so as to permit of the opening of the bridge.

In the practice of my invention I secure upon the abutments or stationary portion A of the bridge adjacent to the ends of the movable part a case or frame 1,.provided with a series of guides 2 for the sections 3 of the signal-rods, and with a cap-plate 4, to prevent any upward movement of the sections 5 of such signal-rods while the signal is at safety.

Upon the ends of the movable portions 13 of the bridge are secured the bearing-plates 6, in which are mounted'the ends of the shaft 7. On this shaft are secured the arms 9, one of which is provided with an angularly-arranged arm 8, connected by the rod 10 to any suitable operating-lever or other mechanism. On the arms 9 are mounted the shafts 11 and 12, the same being arranged on the upper and lower edges, respectively, of such arms, and on said shafts are mounted a series of grooved rollers 13 and 14, the grooves in such rollers being arranged in line with each other for the reception of the section 5 of the signal-rod. The shafts 11 and 12, with their supporting and guide rollers, are so arranged with reference to each other and to the section 5 of the signal-rod that said rollers will have a bearing but no binding action upon the opposite edges of the signal-rods when the latter are in their upper or lower position, as'hereinafter stated.

On'the ends of the sections 5 of the signalrods and on both sides thereof are formed lugs 15 and 16, arranged to engage the opposite sides of the slotted lugs 17, formed on the ends of the sections 3 of the signal-rods, in order that sections 3 and 5 may be locked together, thereby insuring their movement in unison with each other in shift-ing the signals. The upper ends of the walls of the slots in the projections or lugs 17 are shaped by suitably inclining the same so as to guide the sections 5 into the slots in said lugs, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. On the ends of the sections 5 are formed upwardly-projecting toes 18, of such a height with relation to the .cover or cap-plate of the box or case 1 as to permit of the movement of the seotions5 into the box or case and prevent any disengagement of the end of the section 5 from the section 3 when the signal-rods have been shifted from their normal position for thepurpose of setting a signal at safety.

On the sides of the frame or case 1 are formed bearings for the shaft 19, on the ends of which are secured the levers 0, provided with the arms 20, 21, and 22, arranged at suitable angles to each other. On the arms 20 are secured weights 23, adapted to depress said arms, and thereby raise the arms 21 and 22 when the latter is free from engagement with a toe 24, formed onthe ends of the arms 9, as

shown in Figs. 3 and 4, such upward movement of the arms 21 causing a bar 26, arranged transversely of the sections 3 and below the same and connected at its ends to the arms 21, to engage with a stop or projection 25 on the under side of the sections 3 of the signal-rod, thereby preventing any movement of said rod to the left, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4:, or in a direction to shift the signal to safety.

In describing the operation of my improved apparatus I will suppose that the movable portion B of the bridge is in normal position, the sections 5 of the signal-rod interlocked with the sections 3, and all parts of the apparatus in such relative position as either to permit of the signal-rods being shifted longitudinally for the'purpose of clearing the signals, or in such position .as to permit of disengagement of the sections 5 from the sections 3, all as clearly shown in Fig. 3. By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that while the arms 9 are in such position as to permit of the engagement of the sections 5 with the sections 3 of the signal-rod the arms 22 of the lever C are depressed by the toes 24 on the arms 9, thereby holding the arms 21, carrying the bar 20, out of line with the path of movement of the lugs 25 011 the sections 3 and holding the weighted arm 20.

While the parts are in the position as shown in Fig. 3 it will be readily understood that the signal-rods can be shifted to the left for the purpose of clearing the signals, and it will be also understood that in the first movement of the signal-rods to the left the toes 18 are moved Within the box or case 1, thereby lockin g the sections 5 of the signal-rods as against any vertical movement until the rods have been so shifted to the right as to bring the toe 18 outside of the box or case. \Vhen all of the signal-rods have been moved into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3i. a, with the toes 18 on the several rods outside of the box or case, in which position the signals controlled by said rods will be at normal or dan gerthe sections 5 can be disengaged from the sections 3by operating the arms 9 through the medium of the arm 8 and its operatingrod 10. The upward movement of the arm 9 raises the several sections 5 out of engagement with the slotted lugs 17, and at the same time permits of the upward movement of the arm 21 of the lever O, actuated by the weighted arm 20, thus bringing the bar 26 into engagement with the projections 25 on the several sect-ions 3 of the signal-rods, thereby locking said sections and the signals controlled thereby at danger.

It will be readily understood that the bridge must be returned to its exact normal position before the several sections 5 can be shifted into engagement with the sections 3 and the latter unlocked, for the reason that the toes 24 on the arms 9 must be in line with the ends of the arms 22 of the lever O, in order that the bar 26 can be moved out of engagement with the lugs 25 on sections 3.

It will be readily understood from the foregoing that one, two, three, or any desired number of signal-rods may be operated and controlled in this apparatus; and it will also be understood that all the signals whose rods pass over the bridge and control movements of trains thereacross must be returned to danger before the sections 5 and 6 can be disengaged and the bridge unlocked.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. The combination of a series of signalrods provided with a series of vertically-movable sections and a like series of sections stationary as against vertical movement, each of said sections being provided with interlocking lugs, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a series of movable signal-rod sections, a like series of sections stationary as against vertical movement, said sect-ions being constructed to engage each other when in normal position, the movable sections being provided with stops to prevent their disengagement when shifted longitudinally out of normal position for the purpose of setting a signal, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a stationary guidebox, a series of signal-rod sections longitudinally movable through said box, alike series of vertically-movable signal-rod sections, said sections being provided with interlocking lugs, vertically movable sections being provided with toes to prevent any vertical movement when shifted within the box, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of signal-rod sections stationary as against vertical movement, corresponding vertically movable sections, a shaft provided with grooved rollers for supporting and guiding the vertically-movable sections, and arms for raising and lowering said shaft, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a series of two or more signal-rods formed of a series of two or more sections stationary as against vertical movement, and a series of two or more vertically-movable sections adapted to interlock in a vertical plane with the sections of the first series, a vertically-movable support for the movable series, and a lock for the stationary series controlled by such movable support, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES T. I-IAMBAY.

\Vitnesses:

W. B. CoRWIN, DARWIN S. WoLoo'rr. 

